Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance in Portugal shows that Erik ten Hag and Manchester United were right

The dust settled on Cristiano Ronaldo’s acrimonious divorce from Manchester United so long ago that it wasn’t even mentioned in the BBC’s coverage of Portugal v Czech Republic.

The 39-year-old has been playing in Saudi Arabia since January last year and few could name the specific club, such is the lack of interest in the Saudi Pro League nursing home. But Ronaldo still commands reverence.

His namesake was doubled Il Fenomeno but Ronaldo is the real phenomenon. This is his sixth Euro, 20 years after his first. Francisco Conceição, Portugal’s winner in Leipzig, was 18 months old when Ronaldo scored at his home Euro 2004.

This longevity in the modern age is nothing short of remarkable. Ronaldo is one of sport’s most driven athletes and while he marred an elite club career with the sport washed out, his record in the Middle East indicates he hasn’t put his feet up.

EXCLUSIVE: United are open to offering Fernandes a new contract

READ MORE: Mindset changes, two game changes and three key signings – in Ten Hag’s plans to improve United

Ronaldo forced his way out of United 19 months ago, but it felt relevant to see him struggle through Portugal’s late win. His two best chances were both wasted and both from offside positions. Ronaldo’s only role in Portugal’s winning goal was to incite a few Czech players.

Scoring those chances was reminiscent of Ronaldo’s final months with United. He was relegated to an impact sub and unused in the 6-3 thrashing of Manchester City “out of respect for his great career”, in the dubious words of Erik ten Hag.

Former Portugal coach Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo at the last World Cup and his replacement Goncalo Ramos bagged a hat-trick against Switzerland in the round of 16. Santos was sacked following their quarter-final elimination by Morocco.

If ever a coach were to welcome Ronaldo back into the fold, it had to be Roberto Martinez. Time will tell if Portugal made a mistake in appointing a manager who wasted the most talented generation of Belgian footballers in their disappointing Euro 2020 and World Cup 2022 campaign.

As Portugal struggled to recover from 1-0 down to the Czechs, Martinez made five substitutions and was never going to bring on the creaking leader in his 40th year. Martinez has always been a soft touch. Ten Hag is not.

Ronaldo has plundered 58 goals in 64 games for (check Google) Al-Nassr. The top two clubs in the Saudi retirement home, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, have scored 201 goals between them. It’s a league in which the competitive father of the Fast Show would thrive.

Watching Ronaldo against the Czechs, he was little different from the subdued force of his last three months at United. He managed three goals under Ten Hag – one in the Premier League and two in the Europa League against FC Sheriff. One was a penalty.

United were better with Ronaldo in 2021-22 and better without him in 2022-23. His heart was no longer in it once he was deprived of nights in the Champions League, a competition he once monopolized.

Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes looked at Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Chelsea, AC Milan and others. in the summer of 2022. No participants were present. Ronaldo tasked his confidant Ricky Regufe with securing a move to Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo raged against the dying light, but it had gone out. The lack of a proper pre-season (he missed it on leave to be with his sick daughter who had bronchitis) left Ronaldo behind and he never caught up. United were actually trickier with Anthony Martial than with Ronaldo.

It irked Ten Hag that Martial gave Rasmus Hojlund almost no help as a back-up striker last season. Wout Weghorst was more involved than Ronaldo, but so hopeless that he conceded two tap-ins in 31 appearances.

Ronaldo is the game’s top scorer and United finished last season with a humiliating goal difference. None of their players have broken the 20-goal barrier. But they don’t long for their ex since the divorce.